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(No Model.) v 2 Shets'She t 1. E. J. BROOKS. Sealing Press.

ATTEST NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD J. BROOKS, OF EAST ORANGE, NEWV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO E. J. BROOKS 00., OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SEALING-PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 242,259, dated May 31, 1881. Application filed March 10, 1881. (No model.)

To all whom tt may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD J. BROOKS, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Orange, in the State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Sealing-Presses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for applyin g seals and tags or seals to railway-cars, baggage packages of valuable merchandise, and the like, and for opening cars, &e., so sealed by cutting the sealing strips or wires.

It relates more particularly to the construction and use of a sealingpress for pressing or 1 stamping sheet-metal sealshackles in the peculiar manner described in my specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 236,539, dated January 11, lSSl-to wit, so as to provide the same with raised retaihing-projections in the form of numbers or distinguishingmarks, or in any preferred form to efiectually prevent the withdrawal of their pressed or stamped ends through contracted threadingholes.

2 My present invention consists, first, in a novel combination of parts in a sealing-press, comprising a pair of pivotedor sliding dies or die-jaws actuated by direct pressure in a central plane, simultaneously and with equal or substantially equal force, as required for pressing or stamping in the most eii'ective manner each of the two protruding ends of my patented sheet-metal seal-shackle aforesaid, as combined with a tag or keeper separate from the sealing-strip, the same being also advantageously suited to the pressing or stamping of the sealing-sleeves described and claimed in my specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 235,668, dated December 21, 1880, and to the pressing of the soft-metal sealdisks of lead-and-wireseals, and to the union of the ends of sealing-strips by eyelet-punching and like means, as hereinafter set forth. In either case the said combination provides for pressing or stamping two metallic steel surfaces by independent die action at one and the same operation, and so as to insure sharpness of impression and uniformity of compression with economy of power.

0 This invention consists, secondly, in a novel combination of dies in a sealing-press for pressing or stampingthe threaded end or ends of a sheet-metal seal-sh ackle, the same bein g adapted to dothe work at one operation, whether both ends or only one end of the shackle be 5 pressed or stamped.

This invention consists, thirdly, in sealingdies of peculiar construction, the same being adapted to form stiffened and thickened shoulders or offsets on the threaded end or ends of a sheet-metal seal-shackle to prevent the withdrawal of the pressedend or ends through acontracted threading-hole, as hereinafter set forth.

This invention consists, fourthly, in a pair 6 of intaglio die jaws, in combination with a cameo middle die for raising retaining-projections on the threaded end or ends of a sheetmetal seal-shackle, said construction of the respective dies serving to facilitate the insertion of the shackle ends between the dies; fifthly, in a pair of pivoted die-jaws united below their pivots by an opening-spring common to both,

as a feature of superior simplicity and effieiency; sixthly, in a shackle-cutter knife held in a dovetailed seat in the said head of the press by the said spring of the die-jaws, and adapted to co-operate with the shank of one of the pressing-levers, as hereinafter specified.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, Figure 1, Sheet l, is an end or top view of my sealing-press, adapted to raise retaining-projections onthe threadin g ends of sheet -metal seal shackles, thf handles and dies being shown apart or open. 8 Fig. 2 is asideview of the same,partlyin section, on the line2 2, Fig. 1, showing'the parts in full lines open and in dotted lines closed. Fig. 3 is an edge view of this press with parts open. Fig. 4 is another top view of the same with parts closed. Fig.5 isa perspective view of the middle die of this press. Fig. 6 is a like view of the shearing block or knife of its shackle-cutter. Fig. 6 represents a section through the shackle-cutter on the line 6", Fig. 2. Figs. 7 and 7 are perspective views of pressed sheet-metal seals, illustrating the products of the dies of said press. Fig. 8, Sheet 2, is a sectional side View of my sealing-press specially adapted to apply lead-and-wire seals. :00

of pressed sheet-metal sealing-strips, illustrating the products of this press.

Like letters of reference indicate correspon ding parts in the several figures.

The terms upper, lower, top, &c., are used with reference to the press as viewed in Figs. 2, S, and 12.

My sealing-press, in each of its forms or adaptations, consists, principally, of a pair of working levers, L L, terminating at the respective ends of the press in handles it h. and cams c c, and pivoted by parallel pins 12 p, or suitable trunnious, with a yoke frame or head, H, and a pair of pivoted or sliding dies or diejaws, D 1) D D D D", with a spring orsprings, s s s", the springer springs operating to separate or open the die-jaws, and, in combination with said cams, to hold the moving parts in the normal open position indicated by full lines in Figs. 2,8, and 12, while thelevers,through said cams, operate powerfully and equally to force the respective die-j aws toward each other, or, in other words, to close the dies, as illus trated by dotted lines in Figs. 2 and S. In this combination of parts the full length of the press is utilized for leverage, and the power is applied in the mostdirect manner. The cams are, moreover, very simply constructed. A flat or nearly flat peripheral surface, against which theback ofthe die-jaw rest s when the dies are open, is connected by a simple curve with what I term the shank 7c of the lever, said flat or nearly llat peripheral surface of the cam being formed at the proper angle in relation to the body of the lever to aflord the required throw, and of proper length to locate the line of pressure at or about the middle or center of the dies, so as to render the action of the dies at their respective extremities as nearly as possible uniform. 1n the examples the line of pressureis kept below the axes ot'the pivots, so that the die-jaws are never looked but this is not considered essential. Each lever, with its handle and cam, is, moreover, or may be, a counterpart of the other, and the same may be true of each die-j aw, while the division of pivo tstrain renders practicable pivoting the levers by steel pins within a one-part yoke-frame, as shown, all of which tends to materially facilitate and cheapen the manufacture of the press in either of its forms.

In the sealing-press illustrated by Figs. 1 to 7 a two-faced middle die, D, isarranged between the die-jaws D D, and the faces of the respective dies are provided with matching characters, intaglio in one face and cameo on the face opposite, being designed and adapted to raise retaining-projections in the form of numbers or distinguishing-marks simultaneously on the respective threading ends of a seal-shackle, S, Fig. 7, both ends of which protrude through a contracted threading-hole in a tag or keeper, T, or to raise like retainingprojections on the single threading end of a seal-shackle, S Fig. 7-, one end of which is threaded through the other end thereof or through a tag of any shape integral therewith. The upper ends of the die-jaws I) D and middle die, D, are constructed respectively with matching inclines and matching grooves and prominences 0 0, to provide the pressed end or ends of the shackle with shoulders or otfsets 0 stiffened and thickened by means of raised ribs substantially parallel to the longitudinal edges of the shackles, to preclude the withdrawalof said pressed end or ends through a contracted threading-hole. These stiffened and thickened offsets are so effective for this purpose, especially when used in pairs, as shown in Fig. 7, that the numbers or distintinguishing-marks may be dispensed with or stamped without regard to prominence when used in connection therewith. The die-jaws are preferably provided with the intaglio faces, so as to offer no obstruction to the shackle ends, which are deflected against said faces by the beveled upper end of the middle die, and a stop-projection or rest, 0', is formed on the face of each die-jaw at its lower end, to arrest the shackle ends in proper position. between the dies. Said location of the intaglio faces serves also to facilitate repairs, as the intagliodies will not ordinarily require renewal, and the single cameo-die, being the middle die, is easily replaced. It is shown detached in Fig. 5. The die-jaws D D are pivoted at their lower ends between the depending checks of the head H by pins 11 12 parallel to the pivots p p, and are connected beneath the same by a spring, a, common to both, the respective ends of the spring being held in oblique kerfs in the backs of the respective'die iaws. The middle die, 1), is held in place between the die-jaws by a removable pin, 12, near its upper end. Its lower end is afforded lateral support by the respective die-jaws. The employment of a single supporting pin parallel to the pivots p 1) and midway between them, as shown, renders the middle die to some extentself-adjustingin relation to the die-jaws. To further facilitate the removal of the middle die a screw or screws may be substituted for the pin p.

A steel shearing block or knife, K, (shown detached in Fig. 6,) is heldin atransverse dovetailed seat in one edge of the head H, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 6*", so as to coact with the sharp-cornered shank L of the right-hand lever L as a shackle-cutter in removing seals or seals and tags of anykind. Instead of the two cutting-edges shown in Figs 6 and 6, the knife K may have but one cutting-edge in some cases. The knife is supported, except against lateral movement, by the dovetailed form of the seat in which it is held, andis sc cured against lateral displacement by the contiguous portion of the spring 8 occupying a longitudinal groove or notch, n, in the back of the knife, as shown in Fig. 2.

A single-acting press for stamping sheetmetal seal-shackles may be formed by simply omitting the middle die, D, making one of the die-jaws D cameo, and suitably proportionin g the parts. The novel construction of sealin gdies herein specified may also be embodied in sealing-presses of other forms.

By simply omitting the middle die, D, and providing the sides or cheeks of the head H with suitable openings the sealin g-press above described, without changing the character of its die-jaws, is adapted for pressing or stamping the sealing-sleeves of my seals and tags patented December 21, 1880, and in this modified form it may be used, without further change, to provide a shackle-wire with a securely-pressed lead seal of substantially the shape of said die D, Fig. 5 but for pressing lead-and-wire seals I prefer to substitute a pair of sliding die-jaws, D D of the customary round form, with independent springs s s, and ahead, H of modified construction adapted to accommodate these parts,as represented by Figs. 8 to 10.

Fig. 12 gives an external view of the head 11, showing its illustrative construction more clearly. The top of said head H is notched to receive a bushing, y, wbicbis drilled before its insertion to form guides for the cylindrical diejaws, and is held in place by screws, as shown in Fig. 12.

The product, Fig. 11, may have a shacklewire, S, of any description, and the pressed seal-disk (1 may be provided with numbers or distin guishin g-marks, ofan y preferred description, by the respective dies.

The eyeleting seal-press illustrated by Figs. 12 to 15 is formed by simply substituting a suitable pui'iching-die, D and its counterpart I) for the dies D D in the press lastdescribed. The products are the com mon eyeleted tin sealing-strips S S with two simultaneously-formed integral eyelets, or but one, as preferred, the same being formed by inserting the ends of a shackle together between the dies D D and punching them, and then reversing the shackle and repuuchin g through the same hole or holes to clinch the spurs thrown up at the first operation. Dies for inserting commercial eyelets or soft-metal rivets may be substituted in like manner, and do not require additional illustration or description. In either of the latter the shackle may be provided with numbers or distinguishing-marks at the eyeleting or riveting operation by reverse counterparts of the desired characters in sharp cameo on one of the dies, as illustrated at :0 m in Figs. 12 to 15; or the respective dies may be provided with cameo and intaglio embossing-surfaces for the same purpose, or with suitable surfaces for stamping the said rivet-seals in customary manner.

I am aware that a bolt-cutter has been constructed with a pair of hand-levers pivoted within a yoke frame or head, and constructed with cams at their pivot ends for operating a pair of coacting knives by direct action. I theretoredisclaim said combination, broadly considered.

Having thus described my said invention, I claim therein as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent- 1. In a sealing-press, a pair of die-jaws sup ported within a yoke frame or head, with faces toward each other, in combination with a pair of working-levers pivoted within saidhead behind the respective die-jaws, and constructed with cams at their pivot ends adapted to actuate the respective die-jaws by equal, or nearly equal, direct pressure in a central plane, substantially as herein described, for simultaneouslypressing or stamping two seal-surfaces by independent die action.

2. The combination, in a sealing-press, of a pair of simultaneously-actuated diejaws, having faces toward each other, and a two-faced middle die between saiddie-jaws, for pressingor stamping the threaded end or ends of asheetmetal seal-shackle, in the manner set forth.

3. The combination, in a sealing-press, of a pair of sealing-dies constructed with inclined surfaces 0 0, provided, respectively, with grooves and prominences adapted to provide the threaded end or ends of a sheet-metal sealshackle with stiffened and thickened shoulders or offsets, substantially as herein described, to preclude the withdrawal of the same through a contracted threading-hole.

4. In a sealing-press for pressing or stamping sheet-metal seal-shackles, the combination of a pair of intaglio die-jaws and a two-faced cameo middle die, substantially as herein described, for the purposes set forth.

5. Ina sealingpress for pressing-orstamping sheet-metal seal-shackles, the combination, with a two-faced middle die, of a pair of diejaws pivoted at their lower ends and connected beneath the said pivots by an opening-spring common to both, substantially as herein specified.

6. The shearing block or knife K, in combination with the yoke frame or head H, having atrausverse dovetailed seat to receive said knife, and the die-spring s, engaging with the notched back of the knife, as specified, for the purpose set forth.

EDWARD J. BROOKS. Witnesses:

ARTEMAS B. SMITH,

JOHN L. N. HUNT, 

